OBJECTIVE: To investigate the results of reconstruction of hypopharyngeal circumferential and cervical esophageal defects with free jejunal transfer. METHODS: Retrospective review of 112 patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with free jejunal interposition. Analysis was confined to the patients with advanced hypopharyngeal, esophageal or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell cancer. Kaplan-Meier method was used to identify the accumulative survival rate. RESULTS: The free jejunal success rate was 94.6% (106/112). The pharyngocutaneous fistula rate and anastomoses narrow rate were 8.9% (10/112) and 12.5% (12/96) respectively. The perioperative mortality rate was 1.8% (2/112). Except 1 case of dead, 6 cases with flap failure and 2 cases with laryngeal preservation, other 103 cases had resumed oral feeding. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of free jejunal transplantation is high and free jejunal interposition is an ideal reconstruction method for patients who have hypopharyngeal circumferential and cervical esophageal defects after tumor resection.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the results of reconstruction of hypopharyngeal circumferential and cervical esophageal defects with free jejunal transfer. METHODS: Retrospective review of 112 patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with free jejunal interposition. Analysis was confined to the patients with advanced hypopharyngeal, esophageal or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell cancer. Kaplan-Meier method was used to identify the accumulative survival rate. RESULTS: The free jejunal success rate was 94.6% (106/112). The pharyngocutaneous fistula rate and anastomoses narrow rate were 8.9% (10/112) and 12.5% (12/96) respectively. The perioperative mortality rate was 1.8% (2/112). Except 1 case of dead, 6 cases with flap failure and 2 cases with laryngeal preservation, other 103 cases had resumed oral feeding. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of free jejunal transplantation is high and free jejunal interposition is an ideal reconstruction method for patients who have hypopharyngeal circumferential and cervical esophageal defects after tumor resection.